Poland's LNG terminal in the northwest port town of Swinouijscie will start commercial operation at the turn of May and June 2015, deputy PM and Economy Minister Janusz Piechocinski told PAP Polish news agency.

Tests on the new facility will begin in autumn 2014, he added.

" The process will last several months and the full functionality of the terminal at full capacity will come at the turn of May and June next year," Piechocinski said.

Piechocinski cites American expert opinions that the EU's pending 'sulfur directive,' in effect from 2015, could put 500-600 LNG-propelled ships on the Baltic within five years. "This is a chance for us," Piechocinski said, citing rough plans by the Polish shipping line Polska Zegluga Morska to build two such proms in a pilot program.

The LNG terminal should allow for 5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of deliveries to Poland annually, with options for Poland to expand capacity to 7.5 bcm. Despite the high costs of LNG deliveries, Poland deems the investment as strategic given a need to diversify potential supply avenues.